Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Apr 19: Continuing with its tough line on the rights of the minority religious communities in Bangladesh, India on Saturday issued a strong diplomatic rebuke to the neighbouring country following the kidnapping and killing of Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a prominent Hindu minority leader in northern Bangladesh.
In a sharply worded statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) condemned the incident and accused the Muhammad Yunus-led Bangladeshi interim government of failing to protect its minority communities and reminded it of its responsibility of protection of minority rights.
“We have noted with distress the abduction and brutal killing of Shri Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a Hindu minority leader in Bangladesh. This killing follows a pattern of systematic persecution of Hindu minorities under the interim government even as the perpetrators of previous such events roam with impunity,” said Official Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal in a comment.
The statement continued: “We condemn this incident and once again remind the interim government to live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities, including Hindus, without inventing excuses or making distinctions.”
Mr Roy, 58, was kidnapped from his home in Basudebpur village in Dinajpur district – located about 330 kilometres northwest of Dhaka -and later found dead. According to local media reports citing police and family members, Mr Roy received a phone call around 4:30 pm on Wednesday, believed to be from the men who would later attack him.
According to local media reports, roughly thirty minutes after the call, four individuals arrived at Mr Roy’s home on two motorcycles. They reportedly kidnapped him and took him to Narabari village, where he was assaulted. Family members said Mr Roy was returned to his home in an unconscious state. He was transported to a hospital in Dinajpur, where he was declared dead on arrival.
The Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge described Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent meeting with Muhammad Yunus as “ineffective” in securing protections for minorities. “In Bangladesh, religious minorities, especially our Hindu brothers and sisters, are continuously facing atrocities,” Mr Kharge said in a statement. “The brutal murder of a prominent Hindu community leader, Mr Bhabesh Chandra Roy, is evidence that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cordial meeting with Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor has failed.”
Mr Kharge further cited Indian parliamentary data, stating that there had been 76 attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh in the past two months alone, resulting in 23 deaths. He also alleged that similar attacks on other religious minorities were ongoing.
Responding to Mr Kharge’s remarks, the BJP questioned why the Congress was silent on alleged attacks on Hindus in West Bengal, adding that foreign policy cannot be dictated by grudges but through diplomacy. “The first thing Congress should do is realise that targeting PM Modi for his cordial ties with a global figure like Muhammad Yunus is absolutely absurd,” BJP spokesperson Charu Pragya said.
“These connections serve India’s interests in trade and regional security. You cannot define foreign policy on grudges. India’s relationship is with the country of Bangladesh. Regimes can change. It is a bit childish of Congress to make irresponsible statements like that.” “Let me ask a question to Mr Kharge, why are you always silent on the plight of Hindus in your own country?” she added.
The remark is the latest in a series of tit-for-tat comments between Dhaka and New Delhi over minority rights. On Thursday, Shafiqul Alam, the Press Secretary to Prof Yunus had urged India to ensure safety of Muslims in West Bengal which had prompted the MEA to hit back saying that Dhaka’s remarks were “disingenuous.”
Roy was the vice-president of the Biral unit of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad and a prominent leader of the Hindu community in the area. Abdus Sabur, officer-in-charge of Biral Police Station, said preparations were underway to file a case. He said police are working to identify and arrest the suspects involved.
The Congress strongly condemned the “brutal killing” of Roy calling it a disturbing reflection of the growing insecurity faced by religious minorities in the neighbouring country. In a post on X, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh highlighted a troubling pattern of violence, including temple desecrations and targeted attacks, urging the Indian government to take immediate diplomatic steps and ensure justice for the victims.
“The Indian National Congress strongly condemns the brutal killing of Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a prominent leader of the Hindu community in Dinajpur, Bangladesh. The abduction and assault leading to his tragic death are a chilling reminder of the growing sense of insecurity among religious minorities in the region,” Mr Ramesh said.
“This is not an isolated incident. Over the past months, there have been repeated and deeply disturbing instances of attacks on minority communities in Bangladesh, from desecration of Hindu temples to targeted attacks on the homes and businesses of minorities. This pattern of intimidation and brutality cannot be ignored,” he said.
Calling on the Indian government to take action, the Congress MP said, “We reiterate our demand that the safety, dignity, and rights of religious minorities in Bangladesh be protected in letter and spirit. Silence and inaction are not options when such targeted violence is allowed to take root.”
“The Indian National Congress stands in solidarity with the Hindu community in Bangladesh and with all those who believe in secularism, justice, and human rights,” Mr Ramesh said.
Meanwhile, with Bangladesh continuing to witness sporadic incidents of violence since former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s ouster last year, the United States on Saturday reissued a travel advisory to its citizens urging them to reconsider their plans to visit Bangladesh.
“Kidnappings have occurred in the region, including those motivated by domestic or familial disputes, and those targeting members of religious minorities. Separatist organisations and political violence also pose additional threats to visitors to the region, and there have been instances of IED explosions and active shooting,” the advisory read.
“Prior approval from the Government of Bangladesh’s Ministry of Home Affairs Office of Public Safety is required if you plan to travel to these areas. Due to the risks, US government employees working in Bangladesh are prohibited from traveling to the region,” it added.
